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Sacred mystery: Blockbuster ratings for ‘The Bible’ confound Hollywood
The Washington Times ^ | Thursday, March 14, 2013 | By Daniel Wattenberg

Posted on 03/15/2013 11:52:48 AM PDT by TSgt

Sure, it’s easy to criticize Hollywood, but try to remember that the entertainment industry today is an intellectually demanding environment, fraught with cognitively challenging, even intractable, questions, like, to take one recent example: How can the cable mini-series “The Bible” be such a ratings hit when there is no audience for overtly religious entertainment programming?

According to the latest Nielsens, released Tuesday, Sunday night’s telecast of “The Bible,” produced by husband-and-wife team Mark Burnett and Roma Downey for basic cable’s History channel, managed to attract more viewers than anything on broadcast network NBC … during the entire week.

The second installment of this five-part mini-series airing at 8-10 p.m. Sundays through Easter — the first foray into scripted drama for “Survivor” creator Burnett — drew 10.8 million viewers, good for number one in its timeslot and number 11 overall for the week.

(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Extended News
KEYWORDS: bibleseries; historychannel; markburnett; romadowney; thebible
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Imagine that? Wholesome family programming draws viewers!

I wish they would have not glossed over a key reason why Sodom and Gomorrah was destroyed by God but overall it isn't that bad.

1 posted on 03/15/2013 11:52:48 AM PDT by TSgt
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To: TSgt

“I wish they would have not glossed over a key reason why Sodom and Gomorrah was destroyed by God but overall it isn’t that bad.” It would have ABSOLUTLY FREAKED OUT people.


2 posted on 03/15/2013 11:56:12 AM PDT by US Navy Vet (Go Packers! Go Rockies! Go Boston Bruins! See, I'm "Diverse"!)
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To: TSgt

Let this be the downfall of Snooki and the Kardashians...


3 posted on 03/15/2013 11:56:16 AM PDT by SilvieWaldorfMD (A Realistically Really Real Housewife)
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To: TSgt

Just some food for thought....If I were the Devil, how could I do the most damage...I say one way is to present a version of the Bible, that while appearing to be true in most cases, leaves out the most important parts.

I recall a speech about what would a town look like if Satan took it over, it went something like this:

“All of the bars and pool halls would be closed, pornography banished, pristine streets and sidewalks would be occupied by tidy pedestrians who smiled at each other. There would be no swearing. The kids would answer “Yes, sir,” “No, ma’am,” and the churches would be full on Sunday ... where Christ is not preached.”

I am always leery of secular attempts to discuss the Bible.


4 posted on 03/15/2013 11:57:25 AM PDT by dfwgator
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To: TSgt

Only Hollyweird would be confused.


5 posted on 03/15/2013 11:57:33 AM PDT by laweeks
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To: dfwgator

Who should discuss the Bible?


6 posted on 03/15/2013 12:01:27 PM PDT by Krodg
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To: dfwgator

Put the word churches in quotes (”churches”) and you are on to sumthin gator.


7 posted on 03/15/2013 12:01:55 PM PDT by Cletus.D.Yokel (*Catastrophic Anthropogenic Climate Alteration: The acronym explains the science.)
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To: TSgt

I would have LOVED to see how they would have done Genesis 6.


8 posted on 03/15/2013 12:03:54 PM PDT by US Navy Vet (Go Packers! Go Rockies! Go Boston Bruins! See, I'm "Diverse"!)
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To: TSgt
I must be really old fashioned, but I always like the Biblical movies that used to be so popular.

Even the ones that aren’t acted well or aren’t that good... I love to watch them.

A favorite scene in, I don’t know which one, when Christ raises Lazarus from the dead... THAT is well done. You could put yourself in the period and imgagine what people at that place must have experienced. I think Sal Mineo (not my favorite actor) was in the film and as the miracle took place... everyone was astounded... it was so well done and in a way that made the whole scene very chilling and compelling.

9 posted on 03/15/2013 12:12:11 PM PDT by SMARTY ("The man who has no inner-life is a slave to his surroundings. "Henri Frederic Amiel)
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To: dfwgator

That is a fallacious argument.

In his letter to the Phillipians, Paul says:

“It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill. The latter do so in love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while I am in chains. But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice.”

The plain and simple fact is that homosexuality is not the end all and be all sin of the Bible. It is not the main focus of the Bible and it is disheartening to see Christians as fixated on homosexual acts as homosexuals.

The majority, and in fact probably vast majority, of Americans today could not name more than two stories from the Bible. If this show gets even 1% of its viewers, or 100,000 people to pick up the Bible and see what else is in it, then Mark Burnett and Roma Downey have planted more seeds of the gospel than most evangelists.

We snipe and argue and complain and grouse about the fact that the Gospel isn’t presented in the perfect way rather than rejoice, like Paul, that it is presented at all.


10 posted on 03/15/2013 12:16:00 PM PDT by Anitius Severinus Boethius (www.wilsonharpbooks.com)
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To: US Navy Vet
I would have LOVED to see how they would have done Genesis 6.

The classic Bill Cosby on Noah...Genesis 6

11 posted on 03/15/2013 12:22:12 PM PDT by jwsea55
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To: TSgt

Alien Auction Pawn Star Bible...Wars.

I’m calling it here first.


12 posted on 03/15/2013 12:22:35 PM PDT by VanDeKoik
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To: TSgt
The article states: Wrong assumption!
Hollywood is always WRONG when it comes to religion.
They try to belittle it, because they are immoral.

It reminds me:
13 posted on 03/15/2013 12:29:51 PM PDT by Yosemitest (It's Simple ! Fight, ... or Die !)
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To: TSgt

“How can the cable mini-series “The Bible” be such a ratings hit when there is no audience for overtly religious entertainment programming?”

Of course there is an audience for it, there just isn’t an audience for lame, bland programming of any flavor, religious or otherwise. If you can make good, interesting television out of it, people will watch.


14 posted on 03/15/2013 12:29:55 PM PDT by Boogieman
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To: TSgt
It is a good series to watch. Since each they only spend 5 hours each on the Old and New Testament, they have to leave out a lot and take liberties.

I just watch it and enjoy it knowing that they are not going to be accurate in all aspects.

15 posted on 03/15/2013 12:30:31 PM PDT by I Drive Too Fast
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To: I Drive Too Fast

The recurring theme of the series seems to be relying on God.


16 posted on 03/15/2013 12:33:07 PM PDT by AppyPappy (You never see a massacre at a gun show.)
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To: Boogieman

I agree.


17 posted on 03/15/2013 12:37:24 PM PDT by stuartcr ("I have habits that are older than the people telling me they're bad for me.")
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Comment #18 Removed by Moderator

To: jwsea55

Thank you so much! I had forgotten that wonderful bit. That was back when comedy bits about Christianity were about human fallibility, not denigration of the faith.


19 posted on 03/15/2013 12:42:08 PM PDT by Wife of D28Man
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To: TSgt

People have this all wrong. This was never meant to be an attempt to present the Bible in exact ways and exact methods. It was meant to tell the story of the Bible in general terms. If things were left out and things aren’t exactly perfect, so be it. It may peak the interest of some people, and it will lead to questions that we Christians should be able to easily handle. This can also lead to healthy discussion among us churched people. The question is, ARE YOU READY?


20 posted on 03/15/2013 12:53:09 PM PDT by vpintheak (Occupy your Brain!)
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